Many of you have heard stories about Sunday who helps us as we serve in the ministry here. I had the privilege of leading him to the Lord last fall. He recently was just baptized, and at that time wrote out the following testimony and read it before the church prior to getting baptized. I was blessed in many ways, as a spiritual father, to see one who is still so young in his faith be so bold and so solid in the Word. It is a true testimony of our Lord's faithfulness. I was also very blessed that he used the phrase "my church" as he has wavered in a commitment to Calvary Chapel Lakeside still desiring to go to his "Roho Israel" church, which is very much a cult and very prevalent in this part of Kenya. I pray that you can take the time to read his testimony and be blessed to see, in one persons life, the testimony of what God is doing in Kisumu, Kenya. (please note that I tried to type it as close to what he had written as I could - also, I asked permission to share this before posting it here).
- Matt for the P4
Praise the LORD!
I thanks LORD for today’s opportunity. As I stand here in front of my church members this morning when they are witnessing me as I declares my testimony. I got saved on 28th of September 2009 after I heard the Word of God being preached to me by Baba in Christ Matthew. I will not lie that God saved me from practicing evil things, that I was taking alcohol, mirra, bhang or drug abuse in general or immorality. I know, God calls his children in different ways, maybe you were called after you have been healed in a serious illness. Maybe after seeing a miracle or through songs and so many things. But to me after hearing the Word. I was thinking that to be saved, there are certain rules or procedure to follow in that to be perfect completely. The reason why am saying this is that I thought that I have not sinned any more because I was not involve in evil things which I have just named before or doing anything wrong all along the village. Every time I will thank God for He has revealed to me that I am a sinner. The Bible teaches us that “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). I am a sinner. Now I am save by grace, through Jesus’ death on the cross, Jesus is my LORD and Savior, I now have a relationship with God and live for Him not for myself. I normally study the Word and changed by the Word of what it says in my life when the Holy Spirit guides me all along. The Bible demands change in me. This is where God tells me what to do and how to do it. He expects me to be obedient and to agree with Bible teachings. By growing up in the Word day to day I came across some words which I didn’t know before; They are as follows:
1. I know there is no way that I in my good work, would ever make it to heaven. I stand hopelessly condemned on the basis of my past sin. I have no chance of being received by God apart from His mercy.
2. The Bible declares “I am as an unclean thing, and all my righteousness are as filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6) God has provided away of acceptance before Him. God who is absolutely holy and pure so righteous that no sin can dwell in His presence, has made people like me to have fellowship with Him.
3. When I believe in this sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for me - even though I didn’t deserve it – the Father grants me perfect forgiveness. That is what the gospel of grace is all about.
4. God looks at me as though I never committed a single trespass against Him. Surely I have no hope in my own self and in my own righteousness. But I have great hope in the work that Jesus Christ did for me and in the work God is doing in me by the power of His Holy Spirit as He is conforming me into the image of Christ.
5. My righteousness is not a question of good works, human effort, or in keeping certain rituals or dietary laws. My righteousness – both here and now and for all eternity – is a result of my simple faith in God’s Son Jesus.
6. Righteousness by faith removes all distinctions between those who belong to Christ. I am no better than you or you than me. We have sinned, saved only by God’s glorious grace.
I may ask myself a question: What is real faith? – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). Heb 11:6 teaches that, “but without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26) True faith leads to appropriate action. If I truly believe a certain thing, then my actions will be in keeping with what I believe. For it’s true I know: Grace changes everything! And it’s true that I was lost but now I am found.
I know that no one in the world is truly as free as a believer in Jesus Christ. As Paul said in Galatians 5:12. What are the responsibility of my freedom? The main goal and desire of my life is to be found in Christ. Complete in Him. If I am to remain free, I must be careful not to exercise my freedom in pursuing anything that could bring me under its power. May the LORD help me to freely love, to freely serve, to freely seek the best interests of one another. The verse in Proverbs 3:5-6 normally encourages me which says “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” The world today is against for those who believe in Jesus, especially nonbelievers. Am saying this because I myself I have been asked so many questions concerning the meaning to be born-again or the meaning of salvation. You may think that they are in need of or that they are heading to, but its just a way of putting you off. They will mock at you, abusing you and doing wrong things to discourage you from serving your God because they don’t fear God. When I read the book of 1 Samuel 16:7 it says. “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LROD looks at the heart.”” My prayers is that to pray for those who has not receive Jesus as their LORD and Savior in that God to reveals for them. And lastly I may ask myself or you may ask me a question. How I will maintain being in Christ all along my life? My answer is in Philippians 3:12-14 which says, “Not that I have already attained or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
God bless all of you. My name is Aggrey Omondi Olwande
